The Vatican released a scathing 10,000-word review of the global financial system on Thursday, specifically calling out derivatives like credit default swaps, products credited with helping cause the global financial crisis a decade ago. Credit default swaps — or derivatives contracts designed to guarantee against bond defaults — made headlines in 2008 after they were blamed for exacerbating the financial crisis. Traders who felt invincible realized that the components of their alleged hedges were far riskier than previously thought, as they were propped up by rotten assets such as defaulting mortgages. “The market of CDS, in the wake of the economic crisis of 2007, was imposing enough to represent almost the equivalent of the GDP of the entire world,” the Holy See said, first reported by Bloomberg. “The spread of such a kind of contract without proper limits has encouraged the growth of a finance of chance, and of gambling on the failure of others, which is unacceptable from the ethical point of view.” Since these investments have been “securitized” multiple times it “transforms them into a ticking time bomb ready sooner or later to explode,” the Church said. “Economic activity cannot be sustained in the long run where freedom of initiative cannot thrive,” the document says. “It is also obvious today that the freedom enjoyed by the economic stakeholders, if it is understood as absolute in itself, and removed from its intrinsic reference to the true and the good, creates centers of power that incline towards forms of oligarchy and in the end undermine the very efficiency of the economic system.”Personally, I find that the Church’s stance on wanting to close the gap between the rich and the poor and its financial knowledge refreshing. Money can be a form of bondage to a fulfilled life. The question is who will take the time to educate those who are willing to learn. Do you understand the difference between an asset and a liability? A financial education is not only important, but one core idea is the ability to not just want more and more money but manage the money you do have. It’s not about how much you make but how much you keep.

Stars such as Beyoncé and Hugh Jackman have spoken publicly about following intermittent-fasting plans to get in shape. So how does intermittent fasting work? We spoke with one of the leading neuroscientists in this field, Mark Mattson of the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, to learn more.

Following is a transcript of the video.

How long has it been since you last ate? People who fast intermittently often eat within an eight-hour block, leaving 16 hours of fasting in between. During that 16-hour stretch, their bodies undergo an important change that sets them apart from nonfasters.

Here’s how it works.

When you eat, you store some of that energy in the liver as glycogen. But after 10 to 12 hours of not eating, your glycogen reserves will be extremely low. As a result, you may feel more irritable than normal — or “hangry.”

The upside is, with little glycogen left, fat cells in your body release fats into your bloodstream. The fat cells head straight to your liver, where they’re converted to energy for your body and brain. So you are literally burning fat to survive

Blood samples show that people who fasted for 12 to 24 hours experienced a 60% increase in energy from fat, with the biggest change occurring after 18 hours. This is the benefit to intermittent fasting because it puts you in a state called “ketosis.” And it’s why researchers think intermittent fasting could be the key to a longer, healthier life.

I’m not a nutritionist nor a medical professional, so view and read this article with your own discretion, nor do I endorse the ideas in this video. Personally, I find intermittent fasting fascinating, and I’m curious to see if its results are legitimate and don’t have long term negative effects. I’m willing to test it personally. I believe in prayer and fasting, so I’m interested in seeing what effects can have on the body. But scientists have discovered that fasting increases ketone levels more. Ketogenic diets can increase ketones fourfold whereas fasting has been shown to increase ketones by up to twentyfold. As a result, fasting, compared to a ketogenic diet, may have a stronger, more beneficial effect on overall health. Fasting and ketosis have been keys to our survival from the beginning. They helped our ancient ancestors survive through bouts of starvation. And today they’re becoming recognized as ways to help keep future generations mentally and physically disease-free. Our bodies have limits and scientifically knowing how to test and push those limits is the key to human discovery. I think our bodies were originally born in a perfect state both physically mentally emotionally and spiritually. Sin caused a separation from this perfect state, and our current life is a pursuit to re-attain that original design. I think humanity can reach that original state. With the advent of technology, there are many different levels that are being developed. What will be your impact on legacy and eternity?